NLDS to bring millions to local economy

(KSDK) -- The Cardinals heading to the NLDS is a win for the team and for the fans. It's also a win for St. Louis area businesses.

These next two games mean millions of dollars being pumped into the local economy.

"This is a major event for the city of St. Louis," says Mike Shannon's General Manager Matt Kruszynski.

He says this is at least two extra games that bring extra business that they might not have had without the NLDS.

"We're looking at doing probably five to six times the amount we would probably do normally on a Sunday. This is similar to an opening day. So this a great time of the year."

Donna Andrews with the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission says it's $2.5 million dollars in direct spending.

"That means people are going to come in, enjoy our restaurants, go to our sports bars, they're going to stay in our hotels, take our taxi cabs to and from wherever they want to go. And they're going to visit our attractions," she said.

Andrews tells us she never doubted the team as the Wild Card race tightened, but it's still $2.5 million dollars a game they weren't planning to get.

"That's why it's so great. It's a Christmas present to St. Louis."

And she says the national exposure that comes with the NLDS being here is good for the future.

But for the here and now, surely businesses all over the area would agree with Matt Kruszynski.

"The division series we're pumped about. If they advance to the NLCS it's better, and the world series is icing on the cake...Hopefully we have a lot of those bottles of champaign to open up when the cardinals hopefully get 12 in '12."